Admixture of aluminum metal powder and powdered vegetable gum for treatment of open wounds



3,8,790 Patented July 23, 1%63 3,998,790 ADMHXTURE F ALUMlNUM METALPQWDER AND PGWDERED VEGETABLE GUM FOR TREATMENT 0F OPEN WOUNDS MichaelW. Mettentleiter, 885 Park Ave, New York, N.Y. No Drawing. Filed July10, 1958, Ser. No. 747,584 3 Claims. (Cl. 167-58) The present inventionrelates to a medicinal preparation and, more particularly, a medicinalpreparation for the treatment of skin wounds, especially such woundsthat are moist by reason of the exudation or discharge of body fluids,such as wounds resulting from burns, or abrasions, or bed sores. Thepresent invention is particularly directed to the provision of amedicinal preparation or composition of matter that is especiallyadapted for use on skin wounds that cover large body areas and haveheretofore been most diflicult to treat.

Generally stated, the object of the present invention is to provide amedicinal preparation of the character described which, in its effects,simulates natural healing con ditions but improves greatly upon naturalhealing in a number of ways.

Wet, open wounds, such as result from burns, abrasions or bed sores,especially wounds covering large surface areas from which the outer skinhas been burned oil or abraded, are very painful by reason of exposednerve endings which are numerous and highly sensitive. Natural healingof such wounds begins with the formation of a scab over the wound. Thisprocess of a scab formation is relatively slow and depends on the amountof serum discharged by the wound; the larger the serum discharge, thelonger it takes to form a scab. During this scab formation, the exposednerve ends are still open to irritation and remain very painful.

The prolonged period such as heretofore required for natural scabformation may prove fatal, in cases of extensive burns, due to excessiveloss of body fluids during that time.

Another source of pain in the wound area is the inevitable movement ofthe affected body portion which may be due either to shifting or tomuscular contraction. This is especially true in the case of open woundsthat affect a skin area which encompasses or is closely adjacent to abody joint. Heretofore, such wounds involving areas over and adjacent toa joint were particularly hard to treat. Such wounds required theapplication of dressings and immobilization of the joint, and frequentlyresulted in the contraction of the newly grown skin over the affectedarea, which often resulted in a limitation of movement of the joint,requiring surgical procedure to correct it.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a medicinalpreparation of the character described which, when applied over an open,wet wound, will combine with the body serum or fluids to form a filmover the wound that is closely akin to a natural scab.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a medicinalpreparation of the character described which combines with the bodyfluids to form a protective film therewith, substantiallyinstantaneously, to thereby provide immediate protection to theunderlying area against further discharge and evaporation of the bodyfluids therethrough.

It is another object of the present invention to produce a medicinalpreparation of the character described which, when applied to an openwound, combines with the body fluids discharged therefrom to form aprotective film and, because of such combination, the film formedthereby insinuates itself into the surface irregularities in the samemanner as a natural scab, to protect the exposed nerves and therebyalleviate pain and, since such film is formed substantially immediatelyafter application of the preparation, alleviates pain substantiallyimmediately after the application.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide amedicinal preparation of the character described which forms a film thatclosely hugs the wound surface in the manner of a natural scab, but ismuch thinner and, therefore, far more flexible and elastic than anatural scab and permits movement of the affected area without unduepain and without disruption, whereby the need for the application ofdressings to an immobilization of joints which or whose adjacent skinareas are affected by the wound is dispensed with, and healing will,therefore, take place without any contraction, and is also substantiallyaccelerated and is of minimum painfulness.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a medicinalpreparation of the character described which forms a protective filmthat dissipates excessive body heat generally present in wounds for thetreatment of which the preparation is intended; and otherwise promotesnormal chemical and physical conditions under the film to therebyfurther promote and hasten healing.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide amedicinal preparation of the character described which, because itcombines with the body fluids discharged by the wound, absorbs the sameand produces a film which is adhesive to the wound surface and seals itagainst further discharge of serum; unlike the dressings and ointmentsheretofore used which did not seal the wounds against fluid exudationand were dissolved and washed away thereby.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide amedicinal preparation for forming a film over open wounds, of thecharacter described, which may be easily, quickly and painlesslyapplied, and as easily, quickly and painlessly removed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a medicinalpreparation of the character described which is of relatively low cost,simple and easy toproduce, may be conveniently stored and carried, andmay be quickly, simply and easily applied.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the medicinalpreparation of the present invention will become clearer and morereadily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following more orless detailed description thereof.

Generally stated, the medicinal preparation of the present inventionconsists of a mixture of a finely comminuted, atmospherically inertmetal powder and of a gum powder which is absorbent of the fluids exudedby the tissues of a wet body wound. More specifically stated, the metalcomponent of the preparation of the invention comprises a metallicdusting powder formed, preferably, of a metal that is atmosphericallyinert and has high heat transference characteristics and is ground to animpalpable, dust-like fineness. A highly suitable metal for the purposeof the present invention has been found to be aluminum, which isavailable, commercially, in the finely ground form most suitable for thepurpose. The aluminum dust is thoroughly mixed with a powdered vegetablegum which will readily absorb and be dissolved by the body fluids exudedby an open wound. A preferred vegetable gum for the purpose of thepreparation of the present invention is tragacanth.

The tragacanth, in powdered form, is preferably present in the mixturein an amount of between about 10 and about 15 percent, by weight, of themetal powder. A preferred mixture comprises approximately 8.5 parts, byweight, of the metal powder to about 1.0 part, by weight, of thetragacanth powder.

I have found that when a mixture such as the foregoing is applied, =asby dusting or spraying, in a thin layer,

over an open wound, it quickly converts, by the absorption of the bodyfluids present in the open wound into the tragacanth present in themixture, into a pasty film which immediately protects the wound surfaceagainst excessive evaporation of the body fluid and covers the opennerve ends and protects them against irritation, and immediatelycommences to cool the wound surface by the convection of heat throughthe metal present in the paste.

The absorption of the body fluid by the tragacanth in the mixture bringsabout an intimate and close contact between the paste and the Woundsurface, with the viscous fluid insinuating itself closely against thebody surface and around exposed nerve ends, to give them maximumprotection.

The viscous paste layer formed gradually sets into a relatively strongbut thin and flexible film which is sufficiently close grained andconforms closely to the wound surface to protect it, and closes thewound to stop further excretion of fluids. The thin, flexible layer thusformed also protects the wound underneath it from external irritants andinfections and maintains normal body conditions that are conducive toand hasten healing underneath.

Because of the flexibility of the protective film formed by the bodyfluids with the powder of the present invention, and its close adhesionto the wound surface, the film permits the wounded area underneath, evenwhere a joint area is affected, to be moved with a minimum of pain andwithout material disruption of the film, thereby completely eliminatingthe need for dressings and the immobilization of the wound-affectedareas and avoiding the possible resulting contraction and limitation ofmotion of the affected area.

The eflicacy f the medicinal preparation of the present invention wastested in the laboratory on a group of twelve mice. Each of the mice inthe group, after being anaesthetized, had a half inch square burnproduced on its body, between its shoulder blades. Four of the mice inthe group were left completely untreated. Another four of the mice inthe group were treated by dusting aluminum powder over their wounds. Theremaining four mice of the group were treated with a powder mixtureaccording to the present invention. After three weeks, the followingresults were observed.

The wounds on the wholly untreated mice were healed, but the healingeschar still remained over their Wounds.

The four mice treated with powdered aluminum metal only had their woundshealed, with the esch ar gone.

The wounds on the mice treated with the powdered preparation of thepresent invention had their wounds completely healed and had, in allfour instances, the beginning of a regrowth of hair over the woundedareas.

In each of the three groups of mice, the pH of the body fluids in theburn wounds was tested during the healing. In the untreated and in thealuminum powder treated groups of mice, the pH was definitely on thealkaline side; being respectively, 7.9 and 7.7. The pH of the wounds ofthe group treated with the powder mixture of the invention was slightlyon the acid side; being about 6.5.

The foregoing controlled tests indicate that the preparation of thepresent invention maintains a wound condition that is different thanexists in an open wound or in one protected only by a metallic powder.These tests also clearly indicate that the preparation of the presentinvention promotes more rapid and more complete healing of 'a Wound andbrings about a quicker return to normal skin condition.

It may here be stated that the preparation of the present invention maybe modified to confer on it additional medicinal and therapeuticproperties, such as sterilizing and bactericidal properties, by theaddition thereto, in powdered form, preferably, of an antisepticsubstance, or an antibiotic. Such additives may preferably be in theproportion of approximately five percent, by weight, of the mixture ofmetal dust and tragacanth.

It may here be stated also that the protective film formed over thewound by the preparation of the present invention may easily and quicklybe removed from a wound with a minimum of irritation, either during orafter healing, by washing it away, as with soap and water.

The preparation of the present invention may also be used in the samemanner, as by dusting or spraying, even on dry skin wounds, such asproduced by first degree burns. For such use, the preparation of thepresent invention need not be mixed with fluid before application, butsuch fluid may be supplied by wetting the affected surface with a fluid,such as water, and by applying the dry powder to the wetted surface.

It may here be pointed out that in addition to the advantages of thepowder of the present invention for the treatment of open skin woundspointed out above, certain additional advantages inherent in its use,over the two general methods heretofore practiced for the treatment ofburns and the like, will become readily apparen to those familiar withthe subject.

The two methods heretofore practiced for the treatment of open skinwounds, particularly those affecting large areas, are as follows:

l) The open method.-Under this procedure, no dressings whatever areused. The patient lies constantly on a wet sheet. This sheet 'has to befrequently changed. This procedure, besides being painful, thereforerequires a great quantity of material in the form of a large supply ofsheets and the frequent laundering thereof, and a great deal of care andattention involving time and personnel.

(2) The pressure meth od.--'I"his procedure requires the application ofgreat quantities of dressing material applied in thick, bulky layers,and bandages, which have to be frequently changed. This procedureoccupies a great deal of time of attending personnel, in application andchanging of the dressings. It also requires the maintenance and storingof large amounts of varied materials and supplies, including ointments,varied bandages, dressings, and pain alleviating drugs.

In contrast to the foregoing, the preparation of the present inventionmay be quickly and easily applied. It completely eliminates the need forfrequent change of sheets, wet or dry, dressings, bandages, and most, ifnot all, other drugs. Not only is the powder of the invention quicklyand easily applied, but the patient requires very little carethereafter, because he may move freely about, with a minimum of pain,substantially immediately after the application of the preparation, andmay, therefore, mostly take care of himself.

The last described advantages of the preparation of the presentinvention are particularly important in connection with mass injuries,as in disastrous fires, especially aboard ships, and particularly inconnection with arrangements now current against mass injuries by reasonof atomic or similar disasters which may cause extensive skin burns togreat masses of people that will require prompt and immediate treatment.Under the procedures as heretofore practiced, civil defense authoritiesand public health agencies, such as hospitals, have been amassing greatvolumes of materials, in readiness for such emergencies, for thetreatment of burns, at tremendous cost, and requiring capacious storagefacilities. In spite of all these preparations, it is generallyrecognized that the treatment of mass casualties resulting from suchcatastrophes may be substantially impossible because of the time andpersonnel elements involved under the old procedures.

It will be obvious that the powder of the present invention is thepractical answer for preparedness for such catastrophic emergencies.Great volumes of the powder may be prepared at little cost and stored inlittle space. It requires no additional applications by way either ofmedicine or dressings or bed sheets, and such need not be stored. itrequires no equipment for its application and consumes a minimum of timeof a minimum of personnel, both in the application and in aftercare.Because it relieves pain, allows freedom of movement and accelerateshealing, the use of the powder of the invention eliminateshospitalization in many instances and in the other instances reduceshospitalization time, and thereby enables hospitals to extend the use oftheir facilities.

This completes the description of the powered medicinal preparation ofthe present invention. It will be readily apparent that such preparationmay be readily modified and varied, by any one skilled in the art,within limited range, especially with respect to the proportions ofmetal and gum and also with respect to any additives that may be admixedwith them, in accordance with the principles of the invention set forthabove and without the exercise of any inventive ingenuity. I desire,therefore, to be pro- Itected for any and all such modifications andvariations that may be made within the spirit of the present inventionand the scope of the claims hereto appended.

What I claim is:

1. A preparation 'for the treatment of open wounds, comprising a dryadmixture of aluminum metal powder of palpable fineness and a highlycornminuted, powdered vegetable gum capable of absorbing moisture.

2. A preparation for the treatment of open wounds, comprising a dryadmixture of finely comminuted aluminum metal powder and finelycomminuted tragacanth 3. A preparation for the treatment of open wounds,comprising a dry admixture of finely comminuted aluminum metal powderand finely comminuted tragacanth gum, said tragacanth gum being presentin the proportion of about one part, by weight, of the tragacanth gumpowder to about eight and one-half parts, by weight, of the aluminummetal powder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,338,416 Fales Jan. 4, 1944 2,639,268 Heiss May 19, 1953 FOREIGNPATENTS 503,781 Canada June 22, 1954 OTHER REFERENCES

1. A PREPARATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF OPEN WOUND COMPRISING A DRY ADMIXTURE OF ALUMINUM METAL POWDER OF PALPABLE FINENESS AND A HIGHLY COMMINUTED, POWDERED VEGETABLE GUM CAPABLE OF ABSORBING MOISTURE. 